Residents

Dr. Julian Lane

Chief Resident

Dr. Julian Lane earned his Doctor of Medicine from Howard University College of Medicine, in Washington, DC. He earned his Master of Health Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD.

Born in St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, MD, he remained a resident of Maryland until the time he began his residency training. He was the trailblazer for his family, serving as a first-generation college and masters graduate, as well as a first-generation physician. He recognizes the distinct need for physicians desiring to serve the underserved. He plans to dedicate his career to the uplift of black communities through mental health services, mentorship, community outreach and building a pipeline to increase the number of black men entering the field of psychiatry.

He believes that the true quality of life begins the moment we choose to live, regardless of circumstance. He enjoys Rubik’s cubes, graffiti art, embracing life, connecting with people, being in nature, and recreating his favorite comfort foods at home with his air fryer.

Contact: jdlane@msm.edu

Dr. Allison Rowell

Resident

Dr. Allison Rowell was born and raised in Atlanta. Her interest in medicine and business guided her early academic and professional pursuits. She graduated from Georgia Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Management and worked in Corporate America for several years.

After leaving the corporate world, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mercer University and worked as a Registered Nurse. Dr. Rowell decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a physician and received her medical doctorate from Morehouse School of Medicine. During medical school, she earned her MBA from Georgia Tech and received a full fellowship to their inaugural MD/MBA program. Dr. Rowell's current interests in psychiatry are women's mental health and reproductive/perinatal psychiatry.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Rowell enjoys spending time with her family, teaching her dog Blu new tricks, going to concerts, and listening to books on Audible.

Contact: arowell@msm.edu

Dr. Arianna Sewell

Chief Resident

Dr. Arianna Sewell, MD, MHS was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Dillard University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Her desire to become a psychiatrist first began as a young child, where her quiet demeanor often allowed her to observe others and often wonder why Katrina and the increased Post Traumatic Stress Disorder she witnessed in her community and peers.

Along her journey to become a physician, she obtained a Master’s in Health Science where she graduated at the top of her class. She then went on to excel at Meharry Medical College where she emphasized working with the underserved population by serving as the Outreach Coordinator for the student-run clinic as well as advocating for mental health awareness as Vice President of the Lloyd C. Elam Psychiatry Club. She is excited to continue being of service to the underserved population throughout her Psychiatry residency training at Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Sewell ultimately strives to eliminate the stigma of mental health care that often plagues the black community. Her current interests in psychiatry include forensics as well as child and adolescent psychiatry.

In her free time, she enjoys drawing, painting, sculpting, completing 3,000+ piece jigsaw puzzles, and watching true crime documentaries.

Contact: asewell@msm.edu

Dr. Dominique Byrd

Resident

Dominique Byrd was born in Los Angeles, CA. She obtained her undergraduate degree in pre-med Biology from Xavier University of Louisiana. She went on to obtain her Master’s in Biological Sciences from Southern University and A&M University. She subsequently became a high school science teacher and softball coach in the New Orleans Public School system. While teaching, she obtained her Master’s in Educational Leadership before deciding that medical school was still a dream she wanted to pursue. Dominique was admitted to the MEDPREP post-baccalaureate program at Southern Illinois University and simultaneously obtained a Master’s in Public Health while applying to medical school. She completed her medical education at Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University in Dayton, OH.

Dominique’s interest in psychiatry began while she was a high school teacher. The students she worked with often had a high number of adverse childhood experiences that impeded their ability to learn. She then learned about the extremely low number of African American psychiatrist in the country and realized that her pursuit of medicine had to include the ability to help children in underserved and underrepresented communities. Dominique’s professional interest include Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Interventional Psychiatry.

In her free time, Dominique enjoys spending quality time with her husband, family, and friends watching true crime documentaries, working on puzzles and playing adult rec softball.

Contact: dbyrd@msm.edu

Dr. Rayonna Cyprian

Resident

Dr. Cyprian was born and raised in New Orleans. She spent most of her life in Louisiana, attending Louisiana State University with a major in Psychology and minor in Biology. Upon graduation, she moved to Atlanta, GA to matriculate through Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Cyprian has always had a passion for mental health and how people operate and relate to one another so her decision to pursue psychiatry was made while still in undergrad.

In her career, Dr. Cyprian has special interests in both adult and adolescent psychiatry. She plans to pursue a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry with a heavy emphasis on underserved communities, more specifically black communities. She enjoys community psychiatry and wants to work to destigmatize mental illness and make mental health care more accessible and prioritized in underserved communities.

Outside of medicine, she enjoys spending time with her dog, friends and family. She loves music, going to concerts, eating different foods, being in nature and just having a good time. She loves to laugh and enjoys sharing the joy of laughter with other people.

Contact: rcyprian@msm.edu

Dr. Kyunti James-Thorpe

Resident

Dr. Kyunti James-Thorpe was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She spent half of her life there and the other half in Gainesville, GA. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Brenau University. She is also a proud graduate of Morehouse School of Medicine where she received her medical degree. On her journey to becoming an MD, Dr. James-Thorpe found her passion for psychiatry during her 3rd year psychiatry clerkship; she loved the ability to focus on mental health and support vulnerable, disadvantaged populations.

Her passions include serving underserved populations and giving back to the community. Her interests in Psychiatry include serious mental illness, Community Psychiatry, and substance use disorders. After residency, she plans to pursue a fellowship in Addiction Psychiatry. In the future, she aspires to create an adult mental health clinic with multidisciplinary teams in which mental health providers and primary care providers work side by side.

In her free time, she enjoys cooking cultural dishes, traveling to beach destinations, writing free verse poetry, and spending time with loved ones.

Contact: kjamesthorpe@msm.edu

Dr. Roman Tate

Resident

Roman Tate, MD was born in Washington D.C but raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. He attended Xavier University of Louisiana for undergraduate where he received his Bachelor in Biology Pre-Med and a minor in chemistry. There he became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated as he held the position of the chapter Exchequer. He then attended Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina.

His main interest currently is adult psychiatry specifically in the outpatient setting involving psychotherapy. He enjoys traveling to new places, being outdoors, and hanging out with friends.

Contact: rtate@msm.edu

Dr. Myka Taylor

Resident

Dr. Taylor was born and raised in New Orleans, LA. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with minors in Biology and Chemistry at Xavier University of Louisiana. Shortly after college, she was employed as a mental health technician on an inpatient behavioral health unit. She then went on to receive her medical degree from Meharry Medical College.

Her journey to psychiatry began when she was in high school. She took a psychology course that piqued her interest in the field. Her desire to understand how both the brain and body function, and ultimately what makes people who they are, led her to pursue a career in medicine.

Dr. Taylor’s interests include community psychiatry, reproductive/perinatal psychiatry, and psychotherapy. She hopes to utilize a biopsychosocial approach in order to provide the best patient care. She is also dedicated to working with underserved minorities and extremely passionate about reducing stigma regarding mental health within the community.

Outside of medicine, her interests include reading, binge-watching movies/TV shows, traveling, and discovering new activities, recipes, and restaurants to enjoy with loved ones.

Contact: mtaylor@msm.edu

Dr. Eugenia Asare

Resident

Dr. Asare is a first generation Ghanaian-American from Montgomery County, Maryland. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science with summa cum laude distinction from Frostburg State University, located within tht Appalachian mountains of Western Maryland. She then earned her medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine, where her interest blossomed in health disparities, particularly regarding mental health disparities amongst communities of color.

After completing residency, Dr. Asare hopes to pursue a career in general psychiatry, with an emphasis on women's mental health and psychotherapy. In her free time, Dr. Asare enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, photography and rewatching her favorite sitcoms.

Contact: easare@msm.edu

Dr. Victor Elensi

Resident

Dr. Victor Edet Elensi was born in Lagos, Nigeria and grew up in Tampa, Florida. He completed his Bachelor of Health Science degree at the University of Florida. While there, Dr. Elensi worked at the Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Clinical and Academic Program and conducted research with Dr. Jay Clugston at the Concussions Center with University of Florida football team. He went on to earn his medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Elensi is passionate about improving health disparities within low socioeconomic communities. He is also passionate about mental health in the child and adolescent generation.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Elensi enjoys weight training, recreational soccer, and playing piano.

Contact: velensi@msm.edu

Dr. Paolo Gilleran

Resident

Paolo Gilleran was born in Quezon City, Philippines. He graduated summa cum laude from Georgia State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. He practiced as an ICU nurse for 2.5 years and PACU nurse for 4 years. He graduated summa cum laude from Morehouse School of Medicine with a Doctorate in Medicine.

His interests in psychiatry include Child Adolescent Psychiatry and Forensics. In his free time, he likes to play basketball, watch movies, and spend time with his family.

Contact: pgilleran@msm.edu

Dr. Kiyana Harris

Resident

Dr. Harris was born and raised in the South Bronx of New York. Witnessing the many challenges people in her community faced pertaining to medical care is what inspired her to become a physician. She attended North Carolina State University (NC State) where she obtained a bachelor's degree in human biology. She remained at NC State to obtain a master's degree in physiology before matriculating into medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (Georgia Campus).

Kiyana is proud to be the first physician in her family and is excited that one of her residency training sites is Grady Memorial, where her grandmother was born. She hopes to inspire those from communities similar to the South Bronx to dream big and never give up. She is deeply passionate about uplifting underserved communities, addressing minority mental health and even more passionate about assisting the geriatric community. Mental health in the older youth has always been an interest and she is fascinated in how "the mind changes as we age.”

In Kiyana’s free time she loves to write poetry, listen to Hip Hop and R &B, spend quality time with her loved ones, and considers herself a Starbucks connoisseur!

Contact: kharris@msm.edu

Dr. Terrance C. Jenkins

Resident

Dr. Jenkins was born and raised in Waynesboro, GA, he graduated from Valdosta State University with honors with a BS in Biology, and received a Master's of Science in Medical Sciences from Morehouse School of Medicine. He then received a Doctorate of Medicine from Ross University, where he graduated with honors.

Dr. Jenkins has a passion for addressing the unmet needs of underserved communities. His professional interests include chronic pain, neuromodulation, treatment resistance disorders, addiction, and mental health policy. His research focuses on the interplay between chronic pain and mental health. He is committed to confronting prejudicial thinking and flawed health policies that contribute to systemic inadequacies that impede the establishment of true health equity.

In his free time, Dr. Jenkins enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as spending time in nature. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and enjoys mentorship and working to serve his community.

Contact: tcjenkins@msm.edu

Dr. Naima Bakari

Resident

Dr. Naima Bakari was born in Ghana, West Africa then raised in Los Angeles, California. She attended Spelman College where she earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology. She attended Meharry Medical College where she received both a Master’s of Health Science and Doctor of Medicine degree.

While in medical school Dr. Bakari served as co-director of the Salt Wagon Psychiatric Clinic, a mentee in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and participated in advocacy work for the homeless. She is currently interested in many psychiatric fields but is dedicated to serving indigent populations.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Bakari enjoys deep conversation, reading, spending time outdoors, watching anime, listening to music, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.

Contact: nbakari@msm.edu

Dr. Jason Iyobhebhe

Resident

Dr. Iyobhebhe, originally from Lagos, Nigeria, spent the majority of his formative years in Delaware County, PA. Initially driven by the need for financial stability after facing challenges as an immigrant, he developed an interest in healthcare careers during his final year of high school. He further explored various fields within healthcare through summer enrichment programs for minority students, although his initial surface-level attraction to healthcare left him uncertain about pursuing a career in the field. However, everything changed when he was diagnosed with glaucoma at the age of 20. This personal experience led Dr. Iyobhebhe to dedicate his life to providing others with the same life-changing benefits of medicine that he had experienced firsthand.

After completing his Bachelor of Science degree at Millersville University in Millersville, PA, Dr. Iyobhebhe took a gap year and worked with City Year in Miami, FL. This valuable experience allowed him to develop essential skills in leadership and team-building. Subsequently, he matriculated to Morehouse School of Medicine. There, he discovered his true passion for psychiatry. While his initial interest in medicine was focused on matters of the eye, he found a profound connection with matters of the mind and is now fully committed to utilizing his career as a psychiatrist to extend the transformative power of medicine.

Contact: jiyobhebhe@msm.edu

Dr. Chanera Philogene

Resident

Dr. Philogene was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Union, New Jersey. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and minor in Public Health at Rutgers University. She received her Master's in Public Health from Rutgers. She obtained her Master of Health Science degree from Meharry Medical College. She then matriculated into Meharry Medical College to study medicine.

Dr. Philogene is passionate about incorporating alternate means of treating mental health conditions holistically, such as adjusting their diet and incorporating exercise. Her professional interests include working with children, adolescents, and college students, empowering them to engage in their mental health journeys actively.

Outside of her medical practice, Dr. Philogene finds joy in exploring aesthetically pleasing coffee shops, spending time with family, dancing to the vibrant beats of jersey club music, and planning events.

Contact: cphilogene@msm.edu

Dr. Wahenoor Singh

Resident

Dr. Wahenoor Singh grew up in the various suburbs of Metro Atlanta. He received his B.S. degree in Biology from the University of Georgia. He graduated from the Georgia campus of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and is now a PGY-1 in the Psychiatry residency program at the Morehouse School of Medicine. Inspired by his cultural beliefs and life experiences, he aims to excel in a career in medicine. With continual refinements in medical knowledge, intersectional training, and empathy, he aspires to embrace a biopsychosocial model to focus on systematic mental illnesses, utilize advancements in neurobiology and physio-pharmacology, and improve patients' overall quality of life through an integrative medicine lens.

Contact: wsingh@msm.edu

Dr. Donald White

Resident

CDr. Donald White is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Morehouse College and his Master of Medical Science and Medical Doctorate Degree from Morehouse School of Medicine. He has a commitment to advancing mental health care for underserved communities which inspired him to pursue training in Psychiatry. Passionate about addressing mental health disparities in urban populations, Dr. White focuses on providing equitable, culturally sensitive care. His clinical interests include trauma-informed care, addiction psychiatry, and reducing barriers to mental health access. He is dedicated to making a meaningful impact through patient-centered care and advocacy.

In his free time Dr. White enjoys spending time with family and friends, technology, diverse culinary experiences, and watching sports.

Contact: dawhite@msm.edu